Unit 4 How Psychology Works Issues and debates
The synoptic aspect of this section refers to the fact that issues considered must be related
to the topics in Units 1, 2, 3, and 4. This may be in the form of applying the different
approaches from Units 1 and 2 (Social, Cognitive, Psychodynamic, Biological and Learning)
to the issues described, and/or explaining the issues and debates with material drawn from
all the units. Most of the material given below is not new to the student.
However, there are some areas where the material is new, and these areas are
highlighted in italics.
Psychology makes contributions to society
a Describe and evaluate (including strengths and
weaknesses) two contributions to society within
each approach from Units 1 and 2.
b Describe and evaluate one contribution to
society from the two Unit 3 applications
(Criminological, Health) and one contribution from
Clinical Psychology.
Psychology involves ethical issues in the treatment
of participants (both humans and animals)
a Describe five ethical guidelines (such as British
Psychological Society (BPS) ethical guidelines) in
psychological research, which relate to human
participants.
b Describe five ethical principles that relate to the
use of animals (non-human) in research in
psychology.
c Describe and evaluate ethical issues in research
in psychology, both regarding humans and
regarding animals (non-human).
d Describe and evaluate (including strengths and
weaknesses) two studies in terms of ethical
considerations.
Psychology involves using different research
methods
a Describe and evaluate the following research methods
and describe and evaluate one published study for each
research method:
i laboratory, field and natural experiments
ii observations
iii questionnaires
iv interviews
v content analyses
vi correlations as designs
vii case studies.
b Plan a study of their own when given a context, giving aim,
hypotheses, design, procedure, ethical considerations, and how
results would be analysed (including choice of statistical test as
appropriate), and be able to evaluate the study.
c Evaluate psychological studies with reference to the research
methods used, including making suggestions for improvements
(eg improving controls, changing the chosen method, improving
reliability or validity). Note: a study may be given as stimulus
material for evaluation.
Psychology involves issues of relevance to today’s
society (key issues)
Describe and explain using concepts, theories and
research (as appropriate) the key issues studied
for each of the approaches in Units 1 and 2, for
their two chosen applications in Unit 3, and for
clinical psychology in Unit 4.
Note: students should use their knowledge of the
approaches, applications, research method issues,
and ethical issues when commenting on these key
issues as appropriate.
5 Psychology involves different debates
Cultural differences
a Describe and evaluate issues of ethnocentrism in
psychological research, including the potential
effect of cultural bias in the interpretation and
application of cross-cultural studies.
How far psychology is a science
b Describe the debate over what science is and how
far psychology fits the definition. Evaluate
whether psychology should be called a ‘science’.
c Compare the five approaches from Units 1 and 2
according to how scientific their content and
methods are.
How psychological knowledge is used
in issues of social control
d Describe issues related to the use of psychological
knowledge as a means of social control and
assess ethical and practical implications of such
control. Issues should include:
i u use of drug therapy
I
token economy
iii classical conditioning
iv influence of the practitioner in treatment/therapy.
The issue of nature and nurture
e Describe and evaluate the role of both nature and
nurture in explaining human behaviour, drawing
on material (including content and methods)
studied in psychology.
f
Psychology involves being able to applya
knowledge to new or previously not
considered situations
Explain the differing emphases placed on both
nature and nurture by the various approaches
and/or applications studied.
Evaluate previously unseen stimulus material
concerning an issue using psychological concepts,
theories and/or research (as appropriate) from
the different approaches and/or applications (as
appropriate).